[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] >> TONIGHT ON "RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY" - >> I'M A ARTIST THAT WAS THE CAPTURE THESE BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

.

>> CAPTURE HE'S DOES, WITH ONLY THE STAR-STUDDED SKY AS HIS GUIDE.

DAVID PHOTOGRAPHS LIGHTHOUSES AND AWAIT THAT HAS NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE.

>> I AM MORE FOCUSED ON THE END PRODUCT AND BRINGING THE INFORMATION TO MORE PEOPLE.

COMMUNICATING IT.

>> THAT PASSION FOR BRINGING INFORMATION TO PEOPLE IS COMPELLING BECAUSE THIS 15-YEAR-OLD BUDDING METEOROLOGIST WAS BORN LEGALLY BLIND.

>> THE NEXT GENERATION IS VERY SOCIAL MEDIA ORIENTED.

I THINK I HAVE FILLED THE VOID.

I CAN TRANSFER THAT INTO MORE TRADITIONAL STYLES, OR EVEN UNTRADITIONAL BY BEING A BROADCAST METEOROLOGIST ON TV AT SOME POINT.

♪ >> GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO "RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY."

I AM PAMELA WATTS.

I AM MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

WE BEGIN WITH A STORY ABOUT BEACONS OF HOPE.

FOR CENTURIES, LIGHTHOUSES HAVE GUIDED SHIPS IN AND OUT OF HARBORS, WARNING OF SHALLOW WATERS AND ROCKY COVES.

FOR SEVERAL YEARS OF PHOTOGRAPHER IN NORTH KINGSTOWN HAS TURNED HIS CAMERA ON LIGHTHOUSES UP AND DOWN THE EAST COAST.

WHILE COUNTLESS PHOTOS HAVE BEEN TAKEN OF THESE MAJESTIC, OFTEN LIFE-SAVING BEACONS DURING THE DAY, HE TAKES THE IMAGES LONG AFTER THE SUN HAS GONE DOWN.

>> IF YOU THINK OF A LIGHTHOUSE, IT DOES ITS WORK AT NIGHT.

PRIMARILY.

TO NOT HAVE THAT RECORDED IN HISTORY IS A SHAME.

>> DAVID HAS BEEN REPORTING HISTORY FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES.

HE'S AN AWARD-WINNING VIDEOGRAPHER.

HIS BIGGEST PROJECT YET HAS HIM PICKING UP HIS STILL CAMERA.

>> I DID NOT REALIZE THIS WAS A PROJECT UNTIL I WAS 15 OR 20 LIGHTHOUSES IN.

THAT IS WHEN I WAS DOING MORE RESEARCH ON MORE LIGHTHOUSES.

THERE ARE NO PICTURES OF THIS LIGHTHOUSE.

>> HE'S THE PRESIDENT OF THE FRIENDS OF PALM BEACH LIGHTHOUSE IN NORTH KINGSTOWN.

HE HAS LONG BEEN MISPRICED BY LIGHTHOUSES.

NOT JUST BY HOW THEY LOOK, BUT BY THEIR HISTORY.

>> THERE ARE SO MANY OTHERS WITH GREAT STORIES BEHIND THEM.

>> SINCE 2013, HE HAS PHOTOGRAPHED MORE THAN 175 LIGHTHOUSES IN THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING MANY ON THE EASTERN SEABOARD.

>> STARS.

THAT'S A GOOD THING.

>>'S GOAL IS TO CAPTURE EVERY WORKING LIGHTHOUSE AROUND THE COUNTRY AT NIGHT.

THE IDEA CAME TO HIM ALL HE WAS OUT BOATING WITH HIS WIFE ON NARRAGANSETT BAY.

>> WE ARE ANCHORED OFF DUTCH ISLAND.

I SAID, WOULDN'T IT BE COOL TO SEE IF I CAN GET SHOTS OF THE DUTCH ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE AT NIGHT?

UNDER THE STARS.

>> HE SAYS IS A PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT THAT HAS NOT BEEN DONE BEFORE.

>> WITH THE CAMERA HAS ALLOWED US TO DO IS OPEN UP TO PHOTOGRAPHERS THIS WHOLE NEW FIELD OF SHOOTING WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN.

THESE ARE THE SLICK ONES.

NOT TOO BAD BECAUSE THE TIDE IS ON THE WAY IN.

THEY ARE A LITTLE DRY.

>> WHAT YOU CANNOT SEE IT HAS PHOTOS ARE THE GREAT LINKS HE GOES TO TO CAPTURE THESE IMAGES.

IT'S NOT A STRETCH TO SAY YOU ARE PUTTING YOUR LIFE AT RISK ON SOME SHOOT.

>> EARLY ON I REALIZED IT IS DANGEROUS AT NIGHT.

ALMOST THERE.

A LITTLE FURTHER OUT, GET THE REFLECTION.

THAT IS ALWAYS THE BONUS.

>> HE OFTEN WAITS KNEE-DEEP IN THE WATER TO TAKE A PHOTO.

ON THE NIGHT WE WENT WITH HIM IT WAS THIS ONE, THEN THAT'S POINT LIGHTHOUSE IN MASSACHUSETTS.

OTHER LIGHTHOUSES ARE ONLY ACCESSIBLE BY BOAT.

TO GET AN IMAGE LIKE THIS HE PUT HIS 20-FOOT TRIPOD IN THE WATER.

>> I CAN LAUNCH IT OFF A BOAT, STICK IT DOWN IN THE WATER AND GET A SHOT OF THE LIGHTHOUSE FROM THE WATER YOU CANNOT NORMALLY GET BECAUSE YOUR CAMERA HAS TO BE COMPLETELY STEADY FOR 20 SECONDS.

>> ARRIVING AT NIGHT TO THE LIGHTHOUSES IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.

HE AND HIS FRIEND FOUND THAT OUT ON A TRIP TO CAPTURE BETWEEN LIGHTHOUSES.

-- TWIN LIGHTHOUSES.

>> THERE THEY ARE.

LET'S KEEP GOING AND SHOOT IT.

WE TIE THE BOAT OFF AT A MOORING.

NOW WE ARE FACING INTO THE WIND.

WAVES ARE COMING OVER THE BOW WITH MY BOSTON WHALER.

ALL HELL IS BREAKING LOOSE.

WATER IS FILLING THE BACK OF THE BOAT.

I'M AT THE BOW OF THE BOAT GETTING SLAMMED.

I'M LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE HAVE TO GO.

HE WAS LIKE, DAVE, I'M WITH YOU.

>> NEVER WANT TO GIVE UP, HE CAME BACK ANOTHER NIGHT AND CAPTURED THE TWINS IN ALL THEIR GLORY.

BEHIND EVERY PHOTO ARE A HOST OF SAFETY MEASURES.

FROM A HELMET WITH A HEADLAMP, TO A PERSONAL RADIO BEACON IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY.

>> THAT IS SLICK.

JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU ARE DONE.

>> EVEN THOUGH HE PUTS HIMSELF IN PRECARIOUS SITUATIONS, HE SAYS HE IS NOT A RECKLESS RISK TAKER.

>> THE FRILL IS I'M CREATING THIS HISTORY RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY EYES THAT NO ONE HAS DONE BEFORE.

IT'S ALL GOING TO BE AVAILABLE THROUGH UNITED STATES LIGHTHOUSE SOCIETY.

>> WHETHER IT IS THE BOARD AND FLATS LIGHTHOUSE IN MASSACHUSETTS OR THE LIGHTHOUSE IN NANTUCKET, PHOTOGRAPHING THE LIGHTHOUSE AT NIGHT REQUIRES MORE THAN A SKILLED PHOTOGRAPHER AND A GOOD CAMERA.

HE TIMES HIS PHOTO SHOOTS AROUND THE LUNAR CALENDAR.

>> NOW HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED.

NEW MOON, OR CLOSE TO IT, LOW TIDE, SLACK TIDE WHICH MEANS IT HAS STOPPED.

NO CLOUDS.

>> ANYTHING ELSE?

>> WHY DO YOU THINK IT HAS TAKEN ME EIGHT YEARS TO DO 175 LIGHTHOUSES?

SOME CONDITIONS ARE SO SPECIFIC THAT YOU HAVE TO BE PATIENT TO GET THAT SHOT.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO PATIENCE HE HAS PLENTY OF IT.

>> WHEN I STARTED I WAS SELF TEACHING.

MY PHOTOGRAPHY.

I KNEW THERE WAS THE THING CALLED LIGHT PAINTING WITH A FLASHLIGHT.

IF YOU SHOW UP AND IT'S DARK, YOU CAN LIGHT THE LIGHTHOUSE WITH USING A FLASHLIGHT BY WAVING IT BACK AND FORTH.

I DID THAT ORIGINALLY AT BEAVER TAIL.

>> HE SHOT A DOZEN LIGHTHOUSES WHEN HE REALIZED HE COULD ALSO USE HIS BATTERY-POWERED TELEVISION LIGHTS.

>> I USE THOSE DIMMED DOWN TO ALMOST NOTHING.

YOU COULD BARELY READ BY THESE LIGHTS, BUT OVER THE SENSITIVITY AND THE LONG EXPOSURE I HAVE CREATED WITHIN THE CAMERA'S SENSOR, THE LIGHT GOES A LONG WAY.

>> YOUR EYES ARE NOT DECEIVING YOU.

STILL, DON'T EXPECT THE STARRY SKY TO LOOK QUITE LIKE THIS IN PERSON.

>> THE CAMERA SEES MORE THAN OUR EYES CAN SEE.

WHEN YOU ARE STANDING HERE LOOKING AT BEAVER TAIL LIGHTHOUSE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, THE MILKY WAY IS THERE.

YOU CAN BARELY SEE IT WITH YOUR EYES.

BUT THE CAMERA CAN SEE IT BETTER THAN YOU CAN BECAUSE IT IS SEEING THIS LONG EXPOSURE.

>>'S PHOTOGRAPHY COLLECTION WAS PUBLISHED HIS FIRST BOOK IN 2017, "STARS AND LIGHTS.

DARKEST OF DARK NIGHTS."

LAST YEAR HE RELEASED THIS EQUAL, "PORTRAITS FROM THE DARK."

IT HAS BEEN ADOPTED BY THE UNITED STATES LIGHTHOUSE SOCIETY, LIVE IN THEIR ARCHIVES.

>> YOU ARE HOPING TO TAKE THIS RV TO MICHIGAN TO FLORIDA, OHIO, ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

>> FURTHER AND FURTHER AWAY.

>> HE HAS DRIVEN UP AND DOWN THE EAST COAST IN THIS RV PHOTOGRAPHING LIGHTHOUSES.

HE SAYS THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE WITH RISING TIDES PRESENTS A REAL AND PRESENT DANGER.

THE WORK YOU ARE DOING IS A RACE AGAINST TIME.

>> TOTALLY.

ON MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS.

THE LEVELS OF THE GREAT LAKES WERE HIGHER THAN THEY HAVE EVER BEEN.

THEY ARE DOWN AGAIN THIS YEAR BUT IF IT GETS HIGHER AGAIN, THERE ARE SEVERAL LIGHTHOUSES THAT ARE THREATENED BECAUSE THE FOUNDATIONS WILL START CRUMBLING.

POTENTIALLY THIS LIGHTHOUSES GOERGES FALL INTO THE LAKE.

>> IT IS WITH THAT SENSE OF URGENCY THAT HE APPROACHES HIS WORK.

>> TO ME, IT SAYS THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE.

I GUESS ON THE PERSON TO DO IT.

>> YOU CAN SEE MORE OF DAVID'S LIGHTHOUSE PHOTOS SHOWCASED AT THE UPCOMING ART FESTIVAL ON THE WEEKEND OF OCTOBER 9.

NEXT, IF THERE IS ONE THING SOMETHING NEW ENGLANDERS CAN AGREE ON IT IS THE REGION' WEATHER CAN FLUCTUATE BETWEEN IDEAL CONDITIONS AND EXTREME STORMS ON A MOMENTS NOTICE.

PEOPLE IN OUR AREA TEND TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO WEATHER FORECASTS.

FOR 15-YEAR-OLD NORTH KINGSTOWN STUDENT RYAN LUKOWICZ, PROTECTING THE WEATHER HAS BEEN A SOURCE OF INTEREST.

IN RECENT YEARS HE HAS DEVELOPED AN AUDIENCE OF HIS OWN, BY FORECASTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

BUT HIS FOLLOWERS MAY NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES HE OVERCOMES ON A DAILY BASIS TO SHARE WHAT IS BEHIND THE WEATHER.

CONTRIBUTE REPORTER BILL BARTHOLOMEW HAS THE STORY.

>> SEVERAL YEARS AGO IN FOURTH GRADE, WHEN MY PARENTS WOULD HAVE THE NEWS ON AT NIGHT, I ALWAYS ENJOYED THE NEWSCASTS AS A WHOLE, HEARING ABOUT BREAKING STORIES AND LEARNING WHAT THE DIFFERENT REPORTERS RECOVERING ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.

I ENJOYED THAT THREE OR FOUR MINUTES EACH HALF-HOUR WHERE THE METEOROLOGIST CAME ON AND PROVIDED THE WEATHER FORECAST.

I FEEL LIKE IT'S A GREAT MIX OF MATH AND SCIENCES, WHICH ARE THE FUNDAMENTALS OF METEOROLOGY.

ALSO, THE BROADCASTING AND THE PERFORMANCE ASPECT OF IT.

>> FOR RYAN LUKOWICZ, THE WEATHER HAS LONG BEEN A SOURCE OF FASCINATION.

SO MUCH SO THAT THE 15-YEAR-OLD NORTH KINGSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT HAS BUILT HIS OWN PLATFORM FORECASTING SOUTHERN U MAINLAND WHETHER ON FACEBOOK -- SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND WEATHER ON FACEBOOK.

>> VERY SOCIAL MEDIA ORIENTED.

I HAVE FILLED A VOID AND I THINK I CAN SORT OF TRANSFER THAT INTO MORE TRADITIONAL STYLES, OR PERHAPS UNTRADITIONAL BY BEING A BROADCAST METEOROLOGIST ON TV AT SOME POINT.

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR CHECKING OUT THIS VIDEO.

I AM RYAN LUKOWICZ.

>> LUKOWICZ HAS ASSEMBLED A DEDICATED AND GROWING AUDIENCE WITH HIS FACEBOOK WEATHER PAGE, SOMETHING HE SAYS COMES FROM FORMULATING HIS FORECASTS BY ANALYZING INFORMATION, NOT ONLY IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND BUT OTHER NEIGHBORING MARKETS.

>> I USE A LOT OF DIFFERENT SOURCES.

I AM MORE FOCUSED ON THE END PRODUCT AND BRINGING THE INFORMATION TO MORE PEOPLE AND COMMUNICATING IT.

>> THAT PASSION FOR BRINGING INFORMATION TO PEOPLE IS COMPELLING BECAUSE THIS 15-YEAR-OLD BUDDING METEOROLOGIST WAS BORN LEGALLY BLIND.

>> I HAVE HAD SUPPORTS IN PLACE THROUGH ALL OF MY SCHOOL YEARS.

THOSE CAN CHANGE AND VARY BASED ON HOW I'M DOING AND HOW MY VISION CHANGES, WHICH HAS DECREASED, WHICH IS THE WAY IT IS.

>> LUKOWICZ CREDITS NORTH KINGSTOWN FOR CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE HE CAN EXPLORE HIS PASSION FOR WEATHER AND BROADCASTING REGARD THIS OF HIS DISABILITY.

HE SAYS HE IS GRATEFUL FOR HIS FAMILY'S SUPPORT, AS WELL AS NORTH KINGSTOWNS'SUPERINTENDENT.

>> HE IS SO FOCUSED ON THE ARTS AND JUST ANYBODY'S INTERESTS HE WILL EMBRACE.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ATHLETICS OR DRAMA.

IT CAN BE ANYTHING ACROSS THE SPECTRUM.

I THINK THAT HIS WIFE NORTH KINGSTOWN LEADS THE STATE IN OUR SCHOOLS IN GENERAL.

>> LUKOWICZ SAYS HE RECOGNIZES HE IS DIFFERENT FROM HIS CLASSMATES AND HE WELCOMES THEIR CURIOSITY.

>> I'M VERY OPEN ABOUT IF YOU HAVE STUPID QUESTIONS, I HAVE SOME VERY INTERESTING ONES.

I WILL ANSWER ANY OF THEM.

I EMBRACE IT.

IT IS AWESOME THAT KIDS ARE CURIOUS AND THEY WANT TO LEARN AND WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT BLINDNESS AND WHAT COMES WITH IT.

I HAVE GROWN, OF COURSE, IN MANY AREAS SUCH AS SELF-EFFICACY, BEING AN INDEPENDENT TRAVELER, DOING MORE IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT IS A PROCESS, OF COURSE, BUT SO FAR SO GOOD.

>> AND 2020, LUKOWICZ LAUNCHED A PODCAST SERIES CALLED "BEHIND THE WEATHER FORECAST."

>> I AM YOUR HOST RYAN LUKOWICZ.

WE HAVE A LOT TO TALK ABOUT HERE.

>> WHICH CENTERS ON INTERVIEWING SOUTHERN U MAINLY METEOROLOGIST AND NEWS PERSONALITIES.

>> I WAS LISTENING TO OTHER PEOPLE'S PODCASTS AND WANTED A NEW WAY TO REACH MY AUDIENCE THAT WAS NOT JUST WRITING ON A POSTER.

WHICH IS GREAT AND A GOOD WAY TO CONVEY INFORMATION, BUT I WANTED SOMETHING MORE.

I WANTED AN EXTENSION TO THE FACEBOOK PAGE.

SOMETHING THAT WAS MORE THAN JUST A DAY-TO-DAY FORECAST.

I WANTED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND TAKE A DEEP DIVE INTO THEIR STORIES, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WATCH PEOPLE LIKE MICHELLE MUSTAKATEL, BUT YOU D'T KNOW WHERE THEY CAME FROM OR WHAT COLLEGE THEY WENT TO OR HOW THEY GOT INTO THE WEATHER WORLD.

>> GOOD MORNING.

>> EARLY THIS YEAR, THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WAS PROPOSING A CHANGE IN THE WEBLIKE STUDENTS WOULD BE EDUCATED.

SEEKING TO PRIVATIZE THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT STUDENTS LIKE RYAN LUKOWICZ HAD BEEN ENGAGED IN, AND REPLACING IT WITH A PROGRAM FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS-BASED PERKINS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND.

>> IT WAS THE FEAR OF LOSING THE PROFESSIONALS I HAD WORKED WITH FOR YEARS AND HAD KNOWN SINCE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

JUST TO HAVE THIS PERKINS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND IN MASSACHUSETTS COME IN AND JUST COMPLETELY CHANGE EVERYTHING WAS JUST SOMETHING I COULD NOT IMAGINE.

[CHANTING] >> DETERMINED TO STOP THE CHANGE, HE BEGAN LEADING RALLIES OUTSIDE OF THE RHODE ISLAND STATE HOUSE AND ORGANIZING ONLINE.

>> IT WAS A LOT OF WORK AND A LOT OF MEETINGS AND A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS.

IT WAS A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, NOT TESTIFYING BUT MAKING PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE BOARD MEETINGS.

>> SEVERAL BLIND IN VISUALLY IMPAIRED STUDENTS WILL NOT BE LOSING THEIR TEACHERS AFTER ALL.

>> ALL THE WORK PAID OFF, AS THE RHODE ISLAND GENERALIST AND WE DECIDED NOT TO PRIVATIZE EDUCATION FOR BLIND STUDENTS.

>> I'M SO EXCITED THAT IS GOING TO CONTINUE, AT LEAST FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

>> FOR LUKOWICZ, THE NEXT STEPS ARE DECIDING WHERE HE WANTS TO TAKE HIS PASSION AND SKILL IN THE PROFESSIONAL WORLD.

>> I THINK BROADCAST METEOROLOGY IS DEFINITELY A GOOD POSSIBILITY.

I'M KEEPING IT OPEN TO ALL AREAS OF WEATHER, JOURNALISM, AND CAN'T NECESSARILY RULE OUT POLITICS.

THERE IS A WAY TO COMBINE THEM ALL.

CLIMATE CHANGE OVERLAPS THE BROADCASTING.

METEOROLOGY COVERS JOURNALISM AND THE WEATHER.

I THINK BROADCAST METEOROLOGY IS LIKELY.

I AM KEEPING IT OPEN ENDED BECAUSE I HAVE ANY OTHER PASSIONS.

>> NOW WE TURN TO A BIT OF FORECLOSURE -- FORK LORE.

YOGI BERRA SAID WHEN YOU COME TO A FORK IN THE ROAD, TAKE IT.

TONIGHT WE TAKE YOU TO A LOCAL COMMUNITY WERE MAKING THAT'S WHAT DECISION MIGHT JUST MAKE YOU CRACK A SMILE.

>> DRIVING DOWN OLD HARPER ROAD, YOU COME TO A FORK IN THE ROAD.

IT'S BEEN HERE FOR A CENTURY.

>>, RECENT TIMES YOU CAN TAKE THOSE DIRECTIONS TO THE FORK IN THE ROAD ON COLD HARBOR AND RIVER, LITERALLY.

THIS 12 FOOT TALL UNIQUE UTENSIL LOOKS LIKE STERLING BUT IT'S REALLY SILVER PAINTED WOOD.

IT GREETS YOU AS YOU TRAVEL FROM ADAMS BILL AND LITTLE COMPTON TO NEARBY WESTPORT MASSACHUSETTS.

THE CREATOR OF THE WESTPORT DINNER FORK IS THOMAS SCHMIDT, A RETIRED COLLEGE AND MINISTRY FROM HARVARD.

WITH A PASSION FOR TINKERING, HE CRAFTED FOLK ART INTO FORK ART IN HIS HOME WORKSHOP IN WESTPORT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE SEE A FORK IN THE ROAD AS A METAPHOR FOR MAKING A DECISION.

HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO STICK A FORK IN THE ROAD?

>> IT IS THE ROAD.

IT JUST SEEMED IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT DEPICTED THAT.

>> THAT OPPORTUNITY CAME WHEN HE FOUND THE PERFECT PLANKS AT A LUMBERYARD AND DECIDED TO TAKE A STAB AT IT.

>> OLD PINE TREES THAT HAD BEEN IN PLACE.

THEY JUST HAD -- I HAD JUST BOUGHT THEM AND BROUGHT THEM HOME.

I DID NOT HAVE A LOT TO DO.

I GOT A CHAINSAW AND STARTED TO WORK.

MADE IT IN ABOUT A WEEK.

>> THIS WHIMSICAL CREATION IS A SCALE REPLICA OF ONE FROM HIS OWN KITCHEN.

HIS WIFE AND CHILDHOOD SWEETHEART KATE IS ACCUSTOMED TO TO IMPOSE EACH QUIRKY SENSE OF ADVENTURE.

-- TOM'S QUIRKY SENSE A ADVENTURE.

>> IT IS THE WAY HIS MIND WORKS.

I THINK HE THINKS AND PONDS SOMETIMES -- PUNS SOMETIMES.

I'M JUST AND ACCOMPLIS -- AN ACCOMPLICE.

>> EITHER WERE HELD IN A RESPONSIBLE CUT THEM RED-HANDED THE NIGHT THEY ERECTED THE FORK.

>> HE STOPPED.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> I SAID, WHILE, WE ARE PUTTING A FORK IN THE ROAD.

>> HE SAID, WHAT?

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?

WHAT ARE YOU KIDS DOING?

THEN HE LOOKED AT US.

OH, YOU ARE NOT KIDS.

DON'T HURT YOURSELF.

HAVE FUN.

>> CAN YOU IMAGINE WITH THE POLICE BLOTTER WILL SAY THE NEXT EDITION OF THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER?

OFFICER APPREHENDS ELDERLY COUPLE ERECTING FORK.

>> IF YOU THINK YOU JUST STICK A FORK IN IT AND IT'S DONE, NO.

THE FUN HAS JUST BEGUN.

WITHIN 20 FOR HOURS, PRANKSTERS SWIPED THE FORK.

A FISHERMAN FOUND IT ON A LOCAL PEER.

A WEEK LATER, IT WAS PLUNGED INTO ELEPHANT ROCK, LN MARKET OF NEARBY BEACH.

>> I LET IT STAY THERE FOR THE DAY.

WE TALKED TO THE LIFEGUARDS.

THEY FLOATED IT ASHORE AND STUCK IT IN THE STAND NEXT TO THE LIFEGUARD STAND.

>> NO LIFEGUARD COULD SAVE THIS ICONIC ART FROM BECOMING LOCAL FORK-LORE, THE NAME OF THE FOLDER HE KEEPS ON ALL THE ANTICS.

>> I KNOW OF TWO PEOPLE ENGAGED HERE.

MANY WEDDINGS IN THE HARBOR HAVE A TOP HAT IN A VEIL ON THE FORK.

>> ONE YEAR THERE WAS SPAGHETTI IN THE FORK.

THERE WAS A WHITE GARDEN HOSE.

I HAD NEVER SEEN A WHITE GARDEN HOSE BUT IT WAS CLEARLY SPAGHETTI ON THE FORK.

>> A PERSON DID A MEATBALL.

>> THEY ONCE USED IT FOR THE CHRISTMAS CARD, WITH A GREETING "MAY THE FORK BE WITH YOU."

THERE IS THE HOTDOG.

>> IT SEEMED TO ME THE FOURTH OF JULY NEEDED A HOTDOG.

>> WHILE SCHMIDT AND HIS WIFE DON'T RELISH PUTTING THE HOME AND HOTDOG UP, THE AUTHENTIC LOOKING WEENIE IS FRANKLY A HUGE HIT.

>> TOOK A REAL HOTDOG.

I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHICH KIND.

I THINK IT WAS A FAMILY FRANK.

-- FENWAY FRANK.

>> WE TOOK IT TO THE HARDWARE STORE.

THEY PUT IT UNDER THEIR SCOPE AND THEN YOU HAD A MIX PAINT.

GAVE US A HALF PINT OF HOTDOG COLORED PAINT THAT WAS PERFECT.

>> WE HAVE BEEN TRYING FOR A FEW YEARS WITHOUT SUCCESS TO DEVELOP A CONCEPT FOR MUSTARD.

>> THEY HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN MAKING THE FORK OF FUNDRAISER.

IT WAS AUCTIONED OFF TO BENEFIT THE NONPROFIT ENVIRONMENT ORGANIZATION WESTPORT RIVER WATERSHED ALLIANCE, A GROUP OF NEIGHBORS PITCHED IN ON THE WINNING BID.

>> THEY BOUGHT IT WITH A DONATION ON THE CONDITION THEY WOULD PUT IT BACK UP.

>> SO THEY DID, CEMENTING THE FORK INTO ITS LONG-STANDING PLACE IN LOCAL HISTORY.

IN YOUR WILDEST DREAMS DID YOU EVER IMAGINE YOU WOULD GET THIS KIND OF FUN OUT OF YOUR ART PROJECT?

>> NO.

I WOULD SAY NOT.

IT ACCOMPLISHED EXACTLY WHAT I HAD IN MIND, WHICH IS AS PEOPLE COME BY ON A BIKE OR A CAR OR >> IT HAS BEEN FUN TO FEEL LIKE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY APPRECIATE SOMETHING WE DID, THE COMMUNITY DOES.

FRIENDS.

VERY LOCAL.

>> IT ALMOST BECAME OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> IT FEELS AS THOUGH IT WAS ADOPTED BY THE COMMUNITY.

IT IS THEIR THING, NOT OUR THING.

IT IS EVERYBODY'S.

>> INTO TONIGHT'S COMMENTARY, LYLAH ALPHONSE, EDITOR OF GLOBE RHODE ISLAND, EXPLORERS THE COVID-19 VACCINES AND RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS.

>> HOSPITALS ARE STRUGGLING WITH BURNOUT STAFFING ISSUES, PROBLEMS THAT PREDATE THE PANDEMIC BUT DEFINITELY MADE WORSE BY COVID.

JUST NOT IN THE WAY YOU MIGHT THINK.

THERE ARE FAR FEWER COVID PATIENTS IN RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL'S NOW THAN THEY WERE IN DECEMBER WHEN WE HAD A HORRIBLE PEAK.

MANY ELECTIVE AND ROUTINE SURGERIES, TESTS AND SCREENINGS PUT OFF DURING THE PANDEMIC ARE NOW BEING RESCHEDULED.

PEOPLE WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN TREATED IN NURSING HOMES PRE-COVID ARE BEING SENT TO HOSPITALS INSTEAD, RESULTING IN A BIG UPTAKE IN PATIENTS.

STAFFING IS ALSO BEING AFFECTED BY THE STATE'S COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATE, WHICH SAYS HEALTH CARE WORKERS MUST BE VACCINATED BY OCTOBER 1 OR RISK LOSING THEIR JOBS.

HAS GLOBE RHODE ISLAND REPORTED LAST WEEK, SOME HEALTH-CARE WORKERS ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT THAT AND ARE STILL REFUSING TO GET VACCINATED.

THEY HAVE PROTESTED AT THE STATEHOUSE AND OUTSIDE THEIR WORKPLACES, REQUESTED MEDICAL EXEMPTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN DENIED, AND REQUESTED RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN DENIED TOO.

MANY REQUEST RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS ARE BASED ON OBJECTIONS TO THE PFIZER AND MODERNA VACCINE'S HAVING BEEN TESTED ON A FETAL STEM CELL LINE CALLED HEK-329.

SOME ARE NOW SUING RHODE ISLAND, SAYING THE STATE NEEDS TO ACCOMMODATE THE REQUESTS.

SIMILAR OBJECTIONS ARE CROPPING UP AROUND THE COUNTRY.

IN ARKANSAS, ONE HOSPITAL SYSTEM IS DEALING WITH IT BY ASKING EMPLOYEES WHO WANT RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS TO ALSO DECLARE THEY WILL NOT USE OTHER MEDICATIONS THAT WERE TESTED ON FETAL CELLS.

WHAT HAS TAKEN PEOPLE BY SURPRISE IS THE SHEER NUMBER OF COMMON MEDICATIONS THEIR RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS WOULD RULE OUT.

THINGS LIKE ASPIRIN, IBUPROFEN, NAPROXEN, ACETAMINOPHEN PRODUCTS, ALLERGY MEDICATIONS , DECONGESTANTS AND ASTHMA TREATMENTS.

TUMS, PREPARATION H, MAALOX, ROBITUSSIN AND MUCINEX.

THOSE ARE JUST THE OVER-THE-COUNTER ONES.

PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS LIKE AZITHROMYCIN, LIPITOR, PRIVATE SECTOR OTC AND GOOGLE FIGHT -- ARE ALL TESTED ON FETAL CELLS.

SO WAS THE HORSE TO ARMOR SOME PEOPLE WHO REFUSED COVID VACCINES ARE NOW USING TO TREAT THEIR COVID SYMPTOMS.

IF ONE INSISTS ON A RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION TO RHODE ISLAND'S VACCINE MANDATE BUT USES OTHER MEDICATIONS TESTED IN THE SAME WAY AS THE VACCINE, THE OBJECTION IS NOT REALLY BASED ON SINCERELY HELD RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.

IT IS BASED ON OTHER THINGS.

CONVENIENCE, PERSONAL FEELINGS, POLITICS, FEAR, IGNORANCE, ANGER, BUT NOT RELIGION.

WE ALL HAVE A LITTLE MORE RESEARCH TO DO AND MAYBE A LITTLE SOUL-SEARCHING ABOUT THE STRENGTH OF OUR CONVICTIONS.

>> OUR THANKS TO LYLAH ALPHONSE.

I AM PAMELA WATTS.

>> I AM MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER ADDITION OF "RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY."

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